Wednesday, October 26, 2011

The Signet Bureau is much more than a fashion boutique situated in Fitzroy's creative district. Since its inception in 2004 it has provided people of style a one-stop shopping destination for immaculate clothing and footwear.

Nevada Duffy: SS11/12 Collection

Fitzroy-based designer, Nevada Duffy, is the latest addition
to The Signet Bureau family of talented designers. Duffy is recognised for her
experimental yet practical designs. Since launching her eponymous label in
the late 1990s the aesthetic has been consistently sleek and structured
with a strong focus on a bold and modern identity, while respecting
their past lives.

Nevada Duffy draws inspiration from music and
personal memories.

Nevada Duffy: SS11/12 Collection

With Nevada Duffy joining the retail mix, Melbournians are invited to
share the passion, craftsmanship and spirit that comes from experiencing
fashion with design integrity (and is beautiful to wear).

The current exhibition focuses both the artist's and viewers' attention
on various iterations of human faces, one of the traditional genres of
art history. Frequently de-populated and executed with the artist's
characteristic somber palette of rather monochromatic colors, Karcz's
faces create an evocative atmosphere that is simultaneously disquieting,
banal, and even, on occasions, gloomy or sinister. His fleeting
glimpses of these motives are often ambiguous - both artist and viewer
participate in the viewing of the scene and yet are somehow also clearly
excluded from belonging in them...
- Albert Wang, art curator, IAO PROJECTS, Salt Lake City, USA

Polish artist Rafal Karcz's artwork is nothing short of eclectic. His aesthetic displays a mix of pop art and expressionist influences depicted both in his technique and subject matter. His approach is a refreshing take on the use of watercolors, acrylic, dark ink and soft lines of graphite, resulting in an abstract avant garde style.

visions painted on
the old films, drowned in a fabulous spectacle of color. The
association with photography emerges almost immediately. (Karzc)

The artist's postmodern vision encapsulates the concept of the
condition of the contemporary person - the characters fuse into the
cultural background. "They are also very diverse, often lost, and
constantly seeking inspiration" (Karcz).

The work portrays the artist's worldview, one which embraces his Polish
heritage and questions the "mentality of the contemporary human being
and the condition of his emotions."